Do I have the Flu, Covid or just a Common Cold? When should I see a Doctor?

As the fall and winter season approach, the amount of circulating respiratory viruses drastically increases. When one develops “cold symptoms” it is often hard to decide when one should be more concerned and seek medical care. One often has to the ask the question: Do I have the Flu, Covid, or is this just a common cold? The purpose of this blog is to try to help you tell the difference between these conditions. Covid, Flu and the common cold are all spread by viruses. When an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus, other people can breathe in these droplets and particles, or these droplets and particles can land on others’ eyes, nose, or mouth. In some circumstances, these droplets may contaminate the surfaces that one touch and the viruses can spread in this manner.

How do the symptoms of Covid, Flu and the Common cold differ?

These three entities have several symptoms in common such as cough, runny nose, sore throat or nasal congestion. However, when one has a common cold, symptoms are often very mild. It is very difficult to tell the difference between Flu and Covid because the way that one feels is very similar. One can often not tell the difference between the two without testing. The Flu and Covid often makes one sicker with symptoms such as a high fever, bodyaches, severe cough and nasal congestion. One may also have a headache, vomiting or diarrhea. Ones exposure might sometime help to narrow down the right diagnosis. For example, if a close contact in your household was diagnosed with covid 19 and you now develop “Flu Symptoms”, you most likely have Covid. Is it possible to be infected with multiple viruses at the same time? Of course it is.

How can one prevent the spread of Respiratory Viruses?

• Getting your yearly Flu and Covid vaccines
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.
• Frequent hand washing and wiping down of surfaces
• Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms that aren’t better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.
• Wearing a mask can help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them. Different masks offer different levels of protection. Wearing the most protective one you can comfortably wear for extended periods of time that fits well (completely covering the nose and mouth) is the most effective option.
• Take steps for cleaner air. This can mean bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.

What can I do to help myself when I have “a cold” and when do I need to see a doctor?

If you are having mild symptoms such a runny nose, nasal congestion or cough, you may treat yourself at home by drinking plenty of fluids, getting rest, taking ibuprofen or tylenol for fever or body aches and taking over the counter cough and cold medications. Seek health care right away for testing and/or treatment if you believe you may have a serious illness such as covid 19 or the flu.  Treatment with an antiviral medication for Flu or Covid may make your symptoms less severe and shorten the time you are sick. Treatment needs to be started within a few days of when your symptoms begin. Sunrise Urgent Care Center is here daily to care for you and your family this flu season. https://sunriseurgentcaretx.com